First let me say that I don’t
purport to have all the answers. I don’t
even pretend to have some of them. I’m
not an attorney and I’m not well versed in the topic I wish to talk about
here. Some topics in the media cause a
shit storm and just like everyone else I have an opinion.
I know that my family,
friends, neighbors, co-workers and the majority of Americans are horrified and
stunned about the recent tragedies that have occurred in Aurora and
Newtown. We ask ourselves why? Why did something like this happen? Were there signs? How could anyone in his or her right mind do
something like this? What can we do to prevent this from happening again? I truly believe that no one in his or her
right mind wants this to happen again.
We are Americans and we want this fixed yesterday.
I question the knee jerk
reactions that I have been seeing and I wonder why there isn’t a more thoughtful
approach to the problem. For those that are in favor of gun laws, please hold
off the attack. Even though I enjoy
shooting, I am not opposed to gun laws at all.
In fact, I feel these types of laws are long overdue. I would gladly never shoot another piece of
paper at a range if meant that no one would ever die at the hands of a gun. However,
I don’t think changing the gun laws is going to be effective in preventing
these tragedies from happening again.
What I’m not seeing is a
multi-pronged approach to what appears to be an epidemic of shootings in this
country. I use the word appears because
I’m not sure if murders by firearms has increased, if we are seeing copycat
killings or if the media is capitalizing on these two tragedies and publishing every
incident involving a gun. What I haven’t read much about or heard on TV is the acknowledgement
of the true mental health crisis in this country. Again, I don’t have the statistics to back me
up and I doubt the statistics on this topic would be accurate any way.
If you don’t believe there is
a crisis in this country, I invite you to take a look at your family, friends
and neighbors. Individuals struggling with
different types of mental health issues are around all of us. Undiagnosed and untreated, but around
us. Do you know someone that drinks a
little too much? Have you ever wondered why? Perhaps it started as a way to escape
something going on inside of them or in their life. Drinking might have been a way to escape, not
deal, self-medicate. Now, I’m not saying
that our struggling undiagnosed family members are going to go on a rampage or
that everyone who drinks has a DSM IV diagnosis. There is such a stigma about mental illness
that many people don’t seek help. They go through life from one crisis to
another struggling just to make it through the day.
It’s OK to drink too much in
America. But having a mental health
diagnosis and seeking treatment …that comes with a price. You will be judged and talked about. If you
go for a job and have to reveal your medications because of a drug screening,
you will risk not getting the job. I have a friend who is highly educated and had
to disclose her medications for such a screening. She was subsequently denied the job. Of course, another reason for not getting the
job was provided. It’s easy to read
between the lines on that one. We all
know that before a drug screening is done, the applicant is going to be hired
pending the outcome. Thankfully, she found another company that recognizes her
talent. Yes, people who are mentally ill
and treated can be productive, successful, talented members of our
society.
Then there are the parents
who refuse to recognize that their kids have issues or refuse to deal with them
feeling that there are no solutions.
Worse yet, they can’t afford the cost of treatment. This presents an entire new set of
issues.
1. The cost of medical care. I know that some health insurance companies have a cap on mental
health treatment. Why? Are these illnesses not real? Would a health insurance company refuse to
cover insulin for a diabetic?
2. Those who deny treatment for their children
or refuse treatment for themselves. I
don’t know the particular laws regarding this.
From what I’ve read and heard, it appears that you cannot force someone
into treatment for a mental health illness.
I’ve heard that there has to be a crime before this can happen. I understand years ago, people who shouldn’t
have been institutionalized were. There
are many horrific stories if we look back in history. Really, does it take a crime to get someone
to seek treatment? Can’t laws be passed
that have checks and balances so we don’t repeat our past, but take care of our
present? Why can’t educators be required
to report unusual behaviors of students to the authorities if the parents
refuse to acknowledge something is amiss? If a family member is acting in a way that isn't safe or concerning, can't we call a hotline?
3. The last thing I want to mention is
security. Why is that I can walk into almost any school without being
stopped? I always hear that children are
our most precious commodity yet we don’t treat them as such. Times have changed and we need to change the
way we do things. It’s time to secure our schools. Major companies spend billions of dollars
each year to protect proprietary information.
I can’t walk into my job without using an access card and passing a
security guard. I can assure you it’s
not for my protection. It’s for the
mountains of confidential information that we have on the premises. We need to protect our children.
Finally, for those of you who
have guns and kids in the house, lock up your #&*#$& guns. We don’t need any more kids accidentally
killing themselves or going on a rampage.
Be responsible. Please.
